State highway official leaving before review done

Thursday, July 31, 2014 - 10:00 am

INDIANAPOLIS — A top Indiana transportation official who's faced an ethics investigation of land purchases that benefited his family is leaving the agency.

Indiana Department of Transportation chief of staff Troy Woodruff sent an email to agency employees on Wednesday saying that he would step down Thursday. The Indianapolis Star reports (http://indy.st/1oQhNqF ) Woodruff wrote his only regret was not being able to stay for the completion of the investigation that started in 2012.

The state inspector general has been reviewing Woodruff's role in state land purchases along the Interstate 69 extension corridor that the Star reported involved his relatives.

Inspector General David Thomas says he plans to publish his findings Friday.

A highway department spokesman says Woodruff is starting his own business.